Underhang framework or chassis construction



H. A. BENEDICT AND E. M. MULLER.

UNDERHANG FRAMEWORK 0R CHASSIS cousmucnon.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1920.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

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H. A. BENEDICT AND E. M. MOLLER.

UNDERHANG FRAMEWORK 0R CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, I920.

Patented Aug. 16,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

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ATTORNEYS.

H. A. BENEDICT AND E. M. MOLLER.

UNDERHANG FRAMEWORK 0R CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED m3. 1, 1920.

1,387,757 Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. A. BENEDICT AND E. M. MULLER.

- UNDERHANG FRAMEWORK 0R CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED m1. 1. 1920.

1,387,757. I mm Aug. 16, 1921.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

ATTORNEYS H. A. BENEDICT AND E. M. MOLLEB. UNDERHANG FRAMEWORK 0RCHASSIS CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1920.

I 1,387,757. Patented Aug. 16,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

AT T0 R N EYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEB-SHEL A. BENEDICT, OF EAST ORANGE, AND EDVARD M. MOLLER, OF JERSEYCITY, NEW JERSEY.

ULNDERHANG FRAMEWORK OR CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 16 1921 Application filedFebruary 7, 1920. Serial No. 356,888.

To all whom it m (my concern:

Be it known that we, HnnsHnL A. BENE- D101 and Enmno M. MoLLnR, citizensof the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essexand State of New J ersey, and residing at Jersey City, county of Hudson,and State of New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Underhang Framework or Chassis Construction; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in the underhangframe-work or chassis-constructions for railway cars; and, the presentinvention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction ofunderhang frame-work or chassis-construction for electric street-railwaycars or electric busses with a view of providing in addition to a novelarrangement and construction of the devices and parts comprising theframework, a novel means for hanging the trucksprings to saidframe-work, and to provide also in connection therewith a novelarrangement and construction of journal-boxes and wheels for the same.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal objects toprovide a novel and simply-constructed underhang framework orchassis-construction, generally, for railway cars, and more particularlyfor electric street-railway cars or electric bosses; and, the inventionhas for its further object to provide in connection with the framework,a novel means for hanging the truclc springs thereto, and also toprovide a novel and simple arrangement and construction of journahboxesand wheels for the same, all of which will more fully appear in thefollowing specification.

@ther objects of the present invention not at this time moreparticularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the present invention.

lVith the various objects of the present invention in view, the saidinvention consists, primarily, in the novel underhang frame-work orchassis-construction for railway cars, and especially for electricstreet railway cars or electric busses, as well as in the novel meansfor hanging the trucksprings to said frame-work, and in the novelarrangement and construction of journalboxes and wheels therefor; and,the invention consists, furthermore, in the general arrangements andcombinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be morefully described in the following specification, and then finallyembodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and whichform an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of the main frame or chassis-construction for anelectric street railway car, said view showing one embodiment of theprinciples of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same, the frame-work shown in said figures being ordinarily termedthe under or bodyframe, and the lower truck-frame carrying the springs,journal-boxes, wheels and actuating mechanism usually employed with thetrucl-:-frame, being omitted from said views.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the truclcframe and its parts, said drawingbeing made on a lar er scale, with the under or body-frame, shown insaid Figs. 1 and 2, omitted from said view; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinalvertical sectional representation of the truckframe, showing inconnection therewith, and also in longitudinal vertical section, themain central portions of the said under or body-frame.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the journal-boxes, and fragmentaryportions of the frame to which it is secured, and of the spring mountedupon said. frame; and F 6 is a detail transverse vertical sectionalrepresentation of the same, showing in conne tion therewith afragmentary portion of a car-wheel axle mounted in said box, and atransverse vertical sectional representation of portions of one of thecar-wheels mounted upon said axle.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said abovedescribed views. to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, therefercnee-characters 1 and 2 indicate the longitudinally extendingsidemembers or bars of the lower or main bodyframe, the said membersbeing usually in the form of channel-irons or bars, said sidemembersorbars 1 and 2 being suitably tied, in any desired manner, by anarrangement of suitably disposed cross-bars 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, saidcross-bars being also in the form of channel-irons, or the like. Therespective end cross-bars 3 and 8 are usually tied with the respectivecross-bars 4 and 7, and with the side-members or bars 1 and 2, by meansof braces, as 9 and 10, to provide the platform-sections of the saidframework, as will be clearly evident. The respective platform-sections,thus provided, have suitably secured to the end-portions of therespective side-bars or members 1 and 2 of the frame-work, and locatedat the proper sides thereof, steps as 11 and 12 of any desired andsuitable construction.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, extending laterally from thesaid longitudinally extending side-bars or members 1 and 2, and suitablysecured thereto in any well-known manner, are suitably constructedbrackets 13, or other suitable members,

which carry the usual posts or uprights 14 of the body members 15 of thecar, substantially as indicated in said Fig. 1.

Connected with and suitably disposed between the cross-bars 5 and 6, atthe proper location, are supporting members 16 and 17 which carry acompressed air-mechanism or cylinder 18 of any usual construction, andwhich is provided with the usual actuating arms or levers 19 and 20,pivotally mounted, as at 21 and 22, upon the supporting member or bar17, and with which levers 19 and 20 may be operatively connected, in anyusual manner, the actuating links or rods 23 and 24, see Fig. 4 of thedrawings of the usual brakeshoe actuating members 25 and 26, for

forcing the brake-shoes 27 out ,of or into engagement with theperipheral surfaces of the wheels 28 mounted upon the car-wheel axles29.

Referring now once more to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen, thatthe respective cross-bars 4 and 5, and 6 and 7, are each respectivelyprovided with a pair of suitably-constructed bearing-members orbrackets, as 30, 31, 32 and 33, the members or brackets 30 and 82carrying shackle-bolts or pins, 34, and the members or brackets 31 and33 carrying shackles 35 which are pivotally connected with said membersor brackets 31 and 33 by means of other shackle-bolts or pins 36,substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and for thepurposes to be hereinafter more fully described. Employed in connectionwith the heretofore described framework and the various elements thereofis the truck-frame and the journal-boxes thereof, as well as variousother elements used with the same, shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 of thedrawings.

The said truck-frame is more particularly illustrated in said Figs. 2and 3, and the same comprises a pair of longitudinally ex tendingside-members or bars 37 and 38, the said members being also usually inthe form of channel-irons or bars, and being suitably tied, in anydesired manner, by an arrangement of cross-bars 39 and 40. At therespective end-portions, the said side-members or bars 37 and 38 havesecured thereto by means of bolts 41, or other suitable fastening means,carrier-elements or members, as 42, formed with the socketed portions 43for the reception of the end-portions of laterally extending end-rods,as 44.

Each carrier element or member 42 is further provided with a perforatedportion 45, and pivotally connected with each portion 45, by means of apin 46, is an oscillating link 47, each pair of said links carrying upontheir lower ends suitably formed ex tensions, as 48, upon which aresecured by means of bolts 49, or other suitable fastening means, therespective end-portions of brake-beams 50 which carry the previouslymentioned brake-shoes.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, each brake-beam 50comprises the divided parts or members 52 and 53, and extending acrossthe open central portion 51 of said parts or members 52- and 53, bybeing secured to the member 53 by means of bolts 54 and to the part 52by means of an embracing end-portion, as 55, are flanged bearing-plates56 carrying suitably disposed pivot-pins 57 upon which thepreviouslymentioned brake-shoe actuating members and 26 areoscillatorily mounted. The lower end-portions of the said members 25 andhave connected therewith in any usual manner, by means of bolts or pins58, the perforated end-portions of a pair of adjusting rods 59, whichare adjustably connected by means of a turn-buckle 60, or other suitablyconstructed adjusting means may be used, as will be clearly evident.

Referring now to'Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will be seen thatthe previously mentioned longitudinally extending side-members or bars37 and 38 are each provided at the respective locations, where thecar-wheel axles are to be placed, with suitably formed plates 60disposed upon the upper surface-portions of said side-members or barsand secured thereto by means of bolts or screws, as 61, in a manner tobe presently set forth. As shown, these plates 60 are each provided witha pair of upwardly extending and centrally disposed side-flanges, as 62,for the placing therebetween of the centrally disposed leaf-retainingmember or band 64 of the leaf-spring 63.

In addition, each plate 60 is provided with a plurality of tubularbosses 65, in which are disposed and secured in place by means of nuts,as 66 and 67, the screw-threaded shank-portions 68 of suitably-formedspringembracing shackles, as 69, substantially as shown in said Figs. 5and 6 of the drawings; and whereby the respective springs 63 arelongitudinally disposed directly above the respective side-members orbars 37 and 38, as will be clearly evident. The looped endportions 70 ofsaid springs 63 are operatively connected with the pins or bolts as ofthe respective brackets 30 and 32, and the correspondingly loopedend-portions 71 of the springs 63 are operatively connected with thepins or bolts 72 with which the previously-mentioned shackles 35 areprovided, thus providing each spring with a three-point suspension. Froman inspection of said Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen, that there isdisposed between the upper and lower flanged portions of the said sidemembers or bars 37 and 3S, suitably-formed supporting or bracingelements, as 73, provided with tubular bosses 74, or other suitablemeans, for the reception of the previously mentioned belts or screws 61,said bolts being passed through correspondingly located holes in saidupper and lower flanged portions. and through correspondingly placedholes in the upper body-mem ber 75 of the corresponding journal-box, thebody-member 75 of each journal-box thus being secured in its fixedposition against the under face of the lower flanged portion of therespective side-member or bar 37 or 38, by means of nuts '76 which aresecured upon the projecting screw-threaded shankportions of the saidbolts or screws 61, substantially as illustrated in said Fig. 5 of thedrawings. The said body-member 75 I is preferably formed with theupwardly ex tending embracing flanges 77 and 78, and the semi-circularhub-portions 79 and S0. The reference-chaincter 81 indicates a lowermember of the journal-box, which is formed with a lubricant-receivingchamber 82, and upon its opposite sides has the semi-circularhub-portions S3 and 8 1. The two members 75 and 81 are suitablyconnected in their assembled relation, as shown in Fig. 5 in any usualmanner, by means of screws or bolts 85 and nuts 86. Connected with thebody-member 81 and extending angnlarly therefrom, in an upwarddirection, is a chambered member 87 in communication with the mainchamber 82 for supplying the latter with a lubricant, the said member 87being provided with a suitably formed closure as 88. Disposed within theassembled body-members 75 and 81 of each journalbox are suitably formedbrasses or bearingsleeves S9 in which the journal-portions of thecar-wheel axles are adapted to revolve,

said members 89 being also suitably flanged,

as at 90.

Suitably mounted upon the end-portions of the said axles, by pressure orotherwise, are hubs 91. each hub being provided with annular flanges 92and 93 which are respectively formed with the oil-set portions 94 and95. Suitably disposed in the said oilset portions 94 and 95 of therespective flanges 92 and 93 are the centrally located openings of apair of disks 96 and 97, which are respectively provided with theinwardly bent portions 98 and 99 so as to form at various locations, andconcentrically with the central longitudinal axis of the car wheel axle,a series of bearing portions 100 and 101, located near the outerperipheral or circumferential marginal edges 102 and 103 of the saiddisks 96 and 97. The disks 96 are securely held in place by means ofbolts 104i and nuts 105, the said bolts and nuts being also employed forsecuring against the said assembled parts, a closing plate, as 106, andas clearly shown in A 6 of the drawings. In a like manner the said disis 97 are secured in their operative positions against the flanges 93 ofthe respective wheel-hubs 91 by an arrangement of rivets 107, or othersuitable fastening means.

As shown the depressed portions 100 and 101 which provide theabove-mentioned bearing portions, are centrally perforated, as at 108and 109, for the arrangement therein of pintles 110, which are securedin place by means of their heads 111 and nuts 112, as shown, and havemounted thereon suitably formed cushion-hubs 113 which are preferablycircumferentially serrated, as at 114, for operatively mounting uponeach cushion-hub a rubber cushion 115. En circling each cushion 115 is ametallic cushion-rim 116, preferably of the general configurationillustrated in said Fig. 6. The said cushion hubs 113, and the cushions115 and rims 116 are concentrically disposed about a central ring 117,with which the several rims 116 are disposed in a manner that the saidring 117 is operatively held against displacement.

In tangential contact with the said several cushion-rims 116 is a mainengaging ring or telly band, as 119, upon the outer peripheral surfaceof which is mounted and suitably secured thereon by pressure, orotherwise, a wheel-tread 118, of any usual conformation incross-section.

As shown in said Fig. 6, the previously mentioned wheel-hub 91 is alsoannularly flanged, as at 120, the said annular llange 120 extending intothe open portion of the hub-portions and 94. The previously, mentionedhub-portions 79 and 83, and 80 and 84, are internally recessed, as 122,for the reception therein of suitable packings 121, of felt or othersuitable material. Be-

tween the various parts designated by the reference-characters 90 and110, and concentric with the car-wheel axle is a horn-fiber washer 123.It will be evident, however, that this washer may be made of any othersuitable material.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will benoted, that we have produced a novel and simply constructed underhangframe-work or chassisconstruction which is especially adapted for streetrailway cars, but which may be ut to other uses, as in the constructionof e ectric busses, and similar vehicles.

e are, further, fully aware that changes may be made in the generalarrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as wellas in the details of the con struction of the said parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as set forth in theforegoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claimswhich are appended to the said specification. Hence, we donot limit ourpresent invention to the exact arrangement and combination of thedevices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do weconfine ourselves to the exact details of the construction of the saidparts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Vi e claim 1. In an underhang frame-construction for railway-cars, andthe like, a main bodyframe consisting of a pair of longitudinallyextending side-members, a plurality of laterally extending cross-barsbetween said side-members and secured at their end-portions to therespective side-members, angularly disposed bracing members secured attheir respective endportions to the respective end crossbars of theframe and to the next intermediately disposed cross-bars, and aplurality of brackets extending laterally and outwardly from saidsideanembers for-securing thereto the frame-work of the cambody,brackets likewise secured to others of said cross-bars, a plurality ofleafsprings, and means connected with the said last-mentioned cross-barsfor pivotally mounting the respective end-portions of said leaf-springswith relation to said framebody.

2. A truckframe for railway cars, and the like, consisting of a pair oflongitudinally extending side-members, cross-bars be tween saidside-members and secured at their end-portions to the respectivesidernembers, and journal-boxes secured to said side-members, eachjournal-box comprising an upper and a lower body-member constructed toreceive the journal-end of an axle, means for securing said upper andlower body-members about such journalend, flanges extending upwardlyfrom said upper body-member in embracing relation with the side-memberof the truck-frame and means for securing said upper bodymember to saidside-member.

3. A truck-frame for railway cars, and the like, consisting of a pair oflongitudinally extending side-members, cross-bars be tween saidside-members and secured at their end-portions to the respectiveside-members, and journal-boxes secured to said side-members, eachjournal-box comprising an upper and a lower body-member constructed'toreceive the journal-end of an axle, means for securing said upper andlower body-members about such journal-end, flanges extending upwardlyfrom said upper body-member in embracing relation with the side-memberof the truck-frame and means for securing said upper body-member to saidside-mem ber, consisting of a bracing element provided with tubularbosses, said tubular bosses being in alinement with bolt-receiving holeswith which the side-members of the truck-frame and the upper body-members of the journal-boxes are provided, and tightening bolts in saidalined holes and tubular bosses.

4. A truck-frame for railway-cars, and the like, comprisinglongitudinally extending side-members, leaf-springs mounted upon saidside-members, and means for securing said springs upon said sidemembers,each spring-securing means con sisting of a plate adapted to be securedupon the upper surface of a side-member, embracing flanges extending inupward direction from said plate for the recep tion therebetween of theleaf-retaining band of the spring, said plate being also provided withlaterally extending tubular bosses, shackles embracing the leaves ofsaid springs, said shackles having screw-threaded shank-portions in saidtubular bosses and extending therefrom, and nuts upon saidscrew-threaded shank-portions.

5. A truck-frame for railway cars, and the like, comprisinglongitudinally extending side-members, leaf-springs mounted upon saidside-members,- and means for securing said springs upon saidside-members, each spring-securing means comprising a bracing elementprovided with tubular bosses, and a plate disposed upon the uppersurface of said side-member, said sidemember and plate being providedwith boltreceiving holes in alinement with the tubular bosses of saidbracing element, tightening bolts in said alined holes and tubularbosses, embracing flanges extending in upward direction from said platefor the reception therebetween of the leaf-retaining band of the spring,said plate being also provided with tubular bosses, shackles embracingthe leaves of said springs, said shackles having screw-threadedshank-portions in said lastmentioned tubular bosses and extendingtherefrom, and nuts upon said screw-threaded shank-portions.

6. A truck-frame for railway cars, and the like, consisting of a pair oflongitudinally extending side-members. cross-bars between saidside-members and secured at their end-portions to the respectivesidemembers, and journal-boxes secured to said sidemembers. eachjournal-box comprising an upper and a lower body-member constructed toreceive the journal-end of an axle, means for securing said upper andlower body members about such journal end flanges extending upwardlyfrom said upper body-member in embracing relation with the side-memberof the truck-frame, and means for securing said upper body-member tosaid side-member, combined with a wheel mounted upon each journal-end ofthe axle, consisting of a hub provided with annular flanges. a pair ofdisks. and means for securing said disks to said annular flanges. saiddisks being provided with a plurality of depressed bearing-portions. abolt connected with and extending across the space between each pair ofbearing-portions. a cushion hub mounted upon each bolt, a cushionsurmounting each hub, a rim surmounting each cushion, a main centralring. and an outer engaging ring. between which two rings the saidcushion-hubs and their elements are disposed, and a wheeltread upon saidouter engaging ring.

7. A truck-frame for railway cars. and the like consisting of a pair oflongitudinally extending side-members, cross-bars between saidside-members and secured at their end-portions to the respectivesidemembers, and journal-boxes secured to said side-members, eachjournal-box comprising an upper and a lower body-member constructed toreceive the journal-end of an axle, means for securing said upper andlower body members about such journal end, flanges extending upwardlyfrom said upper body-member in embracing relation with the side-memberof the truck-frame, and means for securing said upper body-member tosaid side-member, consisting of a bracing element provided with tubularbosses, said tubular bosses being in alinement with boltreceiving holeswith which the side-members of the truck-trame and the upper bodymembersof the journal-boxes are provided, and tightening bolts in said alinedholes and tubular bosses, combined with a wheel mounted upon saidjournal-end of the axle, consisting of a hub provided with annularflanges, a pair of disks, and means for securing said disks to saidannular flanges, said disks being provided with a plurality of depressedbearing-portions, a bolt connected with and extending across the spacebetween each pair of bearing-portions, a cushion hub mounted upon eachbolt, a cushion surmounting each hub, a rim surmounting each cushion, amain central ring, and an outer engaging ring, between which two ringsthe said cushion-hubs and their elements are disposed, and a wheel-treadupon said outer engaging ring.

In testimony that we claim the invention set forth above we havehereunto set our hands this 31st day of January, 1920.

HERSHEL A. BENEDICT. EDVARD M. MOLLER. Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, BARBARA W. SUTTERLIN.

